Refrigerating apparatus



March 3 1, 1931.

B. B. GEYER 1,798,252

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 31, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 al 6.5116461: e

' l atto/anew? March 31, 1931. B 'GEYER 1,798,252

y REFRIGERATING APPARATUS `Filed Aug. 3l, 1.928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I D I 4 44 ijle fc |39 s l l ,55 l M A( l l 17 f E y w n Patented Mar. 3l, 1931 l z UNITED STATESv PATENT oFFlcE i BEBTRAM IB. GEYER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE refrigerator cabinet when the refri machinery for said refrigerator cannet 1s REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Applicationlled August 31, 1928. Serial No. 303,260.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to an ice cube forming attachment for the ordinary domestic mechanical refrigerating cabinet.

An object of this invention is to provide an ice cube freezing cabinet adapted to provide a relatively large number of ice cubes.

Another ob'ect of this invention is to provide a secon ary ice cube freezing cabinet adapted to be inserted in the unused machinery compartment of a domestic mechanical werating installed outside ofthe cabinet.

Further objects and ladvantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

' In the drawings:

Fi 1 is a front view of a refrigerator embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of the cabinet shown in Fig.` 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the secondary ice cube freezing cabinet;

Fig. l is a horizontal cross sectional View of the lower portion of a domestic mechanical refrigerator embodying features of my invention Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View taken transversely to Fig. 4 on a slightly reduced scale;

Fig-6 is a plan view of a device for attaching the metal ornamental front;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional View of tho device shown in Fig 5 when used in the cabinet; and

Fig. 8 is a. cross sectional View taken transversely to Fig. (i. i

Some domestic mechanical refrigerators now on the market are provided with a food storage compartment in which an evaporator or cooling unit is generally placed. This evaporator ordinarily is provided with a certain amount of ice cube forming capacity. This type of refrigerator ordinarily is also provided with a compartment in which the refrigerating machine is placed when the cabinet is to be of the self-contained or portable variety. However, sometimes the refrigerating machinery is installed outside of the cabinet, for instance, in the basement of the residence in which the cabinet is. to be installed, or in the basement of t-he apartment house wherein the refrigerating machinery supplies liquid refrigerant to several cabinets. Also in restaurants, hotels, and ice cream parlors and the like the refrigeratimAr machinery may be installed at a place remota from the cabinet. It is contemplated, Aaccording to this invention, to provide a secondary ice freezing cabinet which, if desired, may be inserted in the unused machine compartment of the automatic domestic mechanical refrigerator cabinet, which secondary ice cube freezing cabinet is` adapted to provide an additional supply of ice cubes. This is particularly advantageous in hotels, restaurants and such other places where an unusually large demand for ice cubes may occur. As an embodiment of this invention, there is illustrated in the drawings a cabinet generally designated as 20. This cabinet is termed herein a domestic mechanical refrig erator cabinet, although it is to be understood that this type of cabinet may be installed in hotels, restaurants and such other places. The cabinet may be provided with a food storage compartment 21 and another compartment which is often used for refrigerating machinery and which is designated as 22. The food compartment 21 ordinarily is provided with insulation 23 and with a cooling unit or evaporator 24. This cooling unit, may' be supplied with refrigerant, either of the volatile or of the unvolatile type, from the refrigerating machinery which may bc placed in the compartment 22 or which may be placed in some part of the building outside of the cabinet 20. The cooling unit 24 as herein shown may be used with volatile rcfrigerant, such as SO2 and may comprise a header 25 in which a float valve controls the entrance of the refrigerant through the fittings 26 and from which the evaporated refrigerant leaves through the pipe .27. This type of evaporator may be made 1n accordance with the disclosure in the patent to R. G. Osborne, 1,556,708 patented Oct.. 13, 1925.

The evaporator may be provided, if desired, with ice cube forming means. This may comprise one or more sleeves adapted to receive ice cube forming trays 28 which ordinarily may be removed horizontally from the evaporator 24.

lVhen a cabinet as heretofore disclosed is installed in a buildingwith the refrigerating 'machinery outside of the cabinet, a secondary ice cube freezing cabinet, contemplated in accordance with this invention, may be i'nserted in the unused machinery compartment 22, although under certain conditions the'mochinery may be placed in the compartment 22 and the secondary ice cube freezing cabinet may be placed outside of the cabinet 20. However` in the preferred form, the cabinet- 2() may be connected with the refrigerating machinery installed outside of the cabinet by means of the liquid refrigerant pipe 30 and the evaporated refrigerant pipe 27. The pipes 27 and 30 may be provided with T-tittings 31 and 32, respectively, directed toward the compartment 22. The secondary ice cube freezing cabinet 35 may be insertedin the compartment 22 and the fittings 31 and 32 may be connected with the refrigerant pipes 33 and 34 respectively.

The secondary ice cube freezing cabinet, in general, comprises an insulated evaporator provided with sleeves for the reception of ice cube trays. A specific embodiment may comprise a generally. boxlike cabinet having a lining 36 to Which an auxiliary evaporator 37 may be secured in any suitable manner such as by hangers 38. The lining 36 may be insulated by insulation 39 and an outer casing 40 may be placed around the insulation 3S). At the front of the secondary cabinet 35 a door jamb 41 may be provided. This door j amb may be of a size to tit snugly in the opening 42 of the compartment 22. The door j amb 41 may be a. rectangular wooden frame to which the lining 36 may be secured. An insulated closure, or door, 43 may be mounted, preferably by hinges, in the opening formed by the door jamb 41. The door jamb 41 may he provided with a metal front 44 of the same material as the outer casing of the main refrigerator cabinet 20. The evaporator 37 may be, if desired, of the type disclosed in the application of Harold B. Wallis, Serial No. 164,712 filed January 31, 1927. In general it may comprise a header of the type disclosed in the patent to Osborne heretofore mentioned. The header may have depending refrigerant members or loops 51 surrounding ice cube tray sleeves 52 adapted to receive ice cube trays 53. The sleeves y 52 may extend through a front metal piece 5-1 which may be secured to the sleeves 52. A met-al front piece provided with an opening for the insertion or the removing of the ice trays 53 may be mounted in front of the evaporator 37.

Preferably the front 55 may be attached to the door j amb 41. A convenient method of attaching the front 55 may be by the fitting shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. These fittings may comprise a metal plate G0 provided with flanges 61 adjacent an opening 62 in the plate ($0. A U-shaped metal piece 63 may be provided with ears (34 in the ends of its arms. A spring clip G5 may have the ends of a spiral spring inserted in holes 66 in the flange 6l. A spiral spring 65a may surround a metal bar (i7 which is adapted to press against the fianges 64 of the U-shaped piece 63. Vhen the metal front 55, is placed in the opening of the door jamb 41, the metal U- shaped piece G3 recedes into the cavity 68 and then snaps into openings 69 in the flanges of the front piece 55.l

The pipes 33 and 34 may lead through a Wall of the cabinet 35 to fittings in front of the header 50. These fittings are mounted on a removable plate carrying a ioat controlled valve and an evaporated refrigerant outlet fitting, for instance of the type shown in the hereinbefore mentioned patent to Osborne.

The food compartment 21 may be provided with a drain 70 Which is adapted to receive the Water dripping from the cooling unit 24 when the unit is being defrosted. The drain 70 may be coupled to the drain 71 of the cabinet 35 and the two may be connected to the main drain 72 connected to the plumbing of the building in any convenient manner.

It is thus seen that there is provided, according to this invention, an insulate-d cooling unit or evaporator provided with an opening for the reception of ice cube trays and with an insulated closure for said openings. Vithin the insulation of the evaporator substantially all of the specific and latent cold is removed from the refrigerant to form ice cubes. The refrigerant entering and leaving through pipes 34 and 33 is substantially at atmospheric temperature. Thus the forming of ice cubes is the entire task of the refrigerant. Preferably the insulated evaporator is adapted to lit in the usual machinery compartment of the main cabinet, although under certain conditions, it may be used vindependently of the cabinet. lVhen inserted into the main cabinet 20. the secondary cabinet may be provided with a base 75 to which the outer casing 40 may be attached, and the base 75 may rest on the lower framework 7G of the main cabinet 20. The cabinet 35 may then be secured in place by any suitable means such as Wooden screws 77. The door 43 preferably is hinged to the cabinet 35, although, Linder certain conditions, the door may be hinged to the main cabinet.

lVhile the forln of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other iii) t A i forms might be adopted, -alhcoming within the scope of the claims which follow.

that 1s claimed 1s as follows: l. A refrigeratmg apparatus comprising a insulated food compartment provided with an iceless cooling unit and another compartment provided with an opening, and a secondary cabinet inserted in said last named compartment and closing said opening, said seconda-ry cabinet being provided with an insulated ice cube freezing unit having removable ice cube trays, and an opening with an insulated door for the removal of said trays.

2. A secondary ice cube freezing cabinet to be inserted in the unused machinery compartment of a domestic mechanical refrigerator cabinet, the refrigerating machinery of which has been installed'outside of said refrigerator cabinet, Which secondary cabinet comprises an evaporator having ice cube tray sleeves, insulation closely related to said evaporator, the front of said secondary cabinet fitting in the usual opening of said machinery compartment, said front being provided with an opening for the removal and insertion of ice cube trays from and in said icecube tray sleeves, and an insulated door for closing said last named opening.

3. A secondary7 ice cube freezing cabinet to be inserted in the unused machinery compartment of a domestic mechanical refri erator cabinet, the refrigerating machinery o which has been installed outside of said refrigerator cabinet, Which secondary cabinet comprises an evaporator having ice cube tray sleeves, insulation closely related to said evaporator, the front of said secondary cabinet fitting in the usual opening of said machinery compartment, said front being provided with an opening for the removal and insertion of ice cube trays from and in said ice cube tray sleeves, and an insulated door for closingsaid last named opening, said door being carried by said secondary cabinet.

4C. A secondary cube freezing cabinet adaptedto be inserted in the unused machinery compartment of a domestic mechanical refrigerator cabinet, the refrigerating machinery of which has been installed outside of said cabinet, Which secondary ca binet comprises an evapora tor having ice cube tray sleeves, insulation closely related to said evaporator, the front of said secondary cabinet being adapted to fit in the usual opening of said machinery compartment, said front being provided with an opening for the removal and insertion of ice cube trays from and in said ice cube tray sleeves, an insulated door for closing said last named opening, and a metal front for said evaporator having openings for said sleeves. said metal front having quick attaching means for attachment of said front to said secondary cabinet.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a mechanical refrigerator cabinet having an insulated food compartment provided With an iceless cooling unit and another compartment provided With a secondary cabinet inserted `mechanical refrigerator cabinet having an .in said last named compartment, said secondary cabinet being provided with an insulated ice cube freezing unit having removable ice cube trays, an opening with an insulated door for the removal of said trays, said cooling unit and said ice cube Jfreezing unit being connected to the same refrigerant liquefying unit.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a mechanical refrigerator cabinet having an insulated food compartment provided With an iceless cooling unit and another compartment provided with a secondary cabinet inserted in said last named compartment, said secondary cabinet being provided with an insulated ice cube freezing unit having removable ice cube trays, an opening with an insulated door for the removal of said trays, said cooling unit and said ice cube freezing unit being connected to the same refrigerant liquefying unit, said refrigerant liquefying unit eing in stalled outside of said refrigerator cabinet.

7. A retrigeratiug apparatus comprising a mechanical refrigerator Cabinet having an insulated food compartment provided with an iceless cooling unit and another compartment having an opening, a secondary cabinet inserted in said last mentioned compartment, an insulated ice cube freezing unit in said secondary cabinet, the front of sai-d secondary cabinet fitting snugly in the opening of said last mentioned compartment.

In testimony Wbereof I hereto affix my signature.

BERTRAM B. GEYER. 

